IV administration set identification system

ABSTRACT

A system is used for identifying IV administration set components, wherein the IV set includes an IV solution container, a drip chamber having a hollow spike for introduction into the container, and an IV line for delivering the IV solution to a patient. The system includes a first identification element that is removably attached to the drip chamber for subsequent attachment to the container; a second identification element permanently affixed to the drip chamber; and a third identification element that is either permanently or removable attached to a Y-site or port in the IV line. Preferably, the first identification element is a strip or patch that is adhesively attached to the drip chamber in a manner that will allow it to be removed therefrom for subsequent attachment to the container. The second identification element is a marker, preferably a strip or a patch, that is permanently affixed to the drip chamber. The third identification element is integral with or removably attached to a Y-site or port that is part of the IV line. The first, second, and third identification elements bear matching identification symbols.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Invention Disclosure DocumentsNos. 481,332, filed Oct. 16, 1999; and 498,899, filed Aug. 22, 2001.

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No.09/854,711, filed May 14, 2001, now abandoned.

FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for uniquely identifying eachone of two or more intravenous (IV) lines that may be simultaneouslyemployed to deliver drugs intravenously to one or more patientsrespectively from two or more containers (such as IV bags or bottles).

There are medical situations, such as emergency rooms, trauma centers,and wards, in which two or more patients are simultaneously receiving IVdrugs. Also, a single hospital patient often requires the administrationof multiple IV drugs delivered separately, but simultaneously, throughtwo or more separate IV sets, at widely different dosage rates. In suchsituations, it is necessary to assure that each container of drugsolution is properly matched to the correct IV line and from there tothe correct patient. Confusion in matching these elements must beavoided to assure that each drug is administered in the proper dosage tothe proper patient, lest a patient be injured through the administrationof the wrong drug or an improper dose of the correct drug. Additionally,there have been numerous instances of contraindicated medications beingintroduced into an IV line at a “Y-site” or an in-line port, withpossible endangerment of the patient. To date, efforts to avoid suchconfusion have largely been ad hoc. For example, medical personnel mayattach numbered pieces of adhesive tape to IV containers and to IV linesto match them up properly. Still, a more reliable mechanism has beensought to achieve these ends.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, the present invention is a system for identifying IVadministration set components, wherein the IV set includes an IVsolution container, a drip chamber having a hollow spike forintroduction into the container, and an IV line for delivering the IVsolution to a patient, wherein the system comprises a firstidentification element that is removably attached to the drip chamberfor subsequent attachment to the container; a second identificationelement permanently affixed to the drip chamber; and a thirdidentification element attached to a Y-site or port in the IV line.

In a specific preferred embodiment, the first identification element isa strip or patch that is adhesively attached to the drip chamber in amanner that will allow it to be removed therefrom for subsequentattachment to the IV solution container. The second identificationelement is a marker, preferably a strip or a patch, that is permanentlyaffixed to the drip chamber. The third identification element isattached to a Y-site or port that is part of the IV line. The thirdidentification element may be an integral part of the Y-site or port, orit may be removably attached to it. The first, second, and thirdidentification elements bear matching identification symbols. In thecontext of this invention, the term “symbol” is deemed to encompass oneor more letters, numbers, geometric shapes, abstract shapes, colors, andany combination of these elements. The term “symbol” may also include acolor alone.

Viewed another way, the system of the invention comprises a matched setof plural identification elements bearing matching identificationsymbols, wherein a first one of the set is attachable to the IVcontainer; a second one of the set is attached to the drip chamber; anda third one of the set is attached to the IV line remote from the firstand second identification elements in the set. In practice, the systemwill advantageously include two or more such matched sets ofidentification elements, each set bearing a unique identificationsymbol. In the context of this invention, however, the term “system” ismeant to encompass one or more such matched sets of identificationelements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of an IV administration set identificationsystem in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, showing the system in use on a typical IV administration set;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the first identification element of theIV set identification system used on the IV administration set of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the second identification element ofthe IV set identification system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the third identification element of theIV set identification system shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are elevational views of identification elementsshowing alternative types of identification symbols;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the thirdidentification element that is removably attached to a Y-site or port;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the modified third identificationelement and the Y-site or port to which it is removably attached, takenalong line 10—10 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the modified third identificationelement and the Y-site or port to which it is removably attached, takenalong line 11—11 of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, a typical IV administration set 10 is shown,comprising a flexible plastic bag 12 serving as a container or reservoirfor an IV drug solution (not shown). The set 10 also includes a dripchamber 14 having a hollow needle or spike 16 adapted to puncture thebag 12. The drip chamber 14 has an outlet 18 that communicates with afirst segment 20 of a flexible IV line. The first IV line segment 20 hasan outlet end that communicates with a first inlet branch 22 of aY-shaped port or “Y-site” 24. The Y-site 24 is modified in accordancewith the present invention, as will be described below. The Y-site 24may advantageously have a second inlet branch 26 sealed by a puncturableseptum 28. The septum 28 may be punctured by the needle of a syringe(not shown), or opened by a Luer connector or other device (not shown),for the administration of a supplemental drug into the IV line throughthe second inlet branch 26, as is well known in the art. The Y-site 24has an outlet branch 30 that communicates with a second segment 32 ofthe flexible IV line, which terminates in an IV needle (not shown) thatis adapted for insertion into a vein of a patient (not shown).Preferably, the outlet branch 30 is aligned axially with the secondinlet branch 26, so as to form therewith a continuous tubular body.

The identification system of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1,2, 3, and 4. The system comprises a first identification element, in theform of a first adhesive patch or strip 38 (FIG. 2); a secondidentification element, preferably in the form of a second adhesivestrip or patch 40 (FIG. 3); and third identification element, in theform of a flattened extension 42 that extends outwardly from the tubularbody that comprises the second inlet branch 26 and the outlet branch 30of the Y-site 24, and that is advantageously formed integrally therewith(FIG. 4).

The first adhesive strip or patch 38 (FIG. 2) includes a pull tab 48 atone end and an adhesive backing 50 on its reverse side, but not on theback of the pull tab 48. The first adhesive strip or patch 38 isinitially adhesively attached to the drip chamber 14 (as shown in FIG. 2and in solid outline in FIG. 1). When the identification system of thepresent invention is used, however, the first adhesive strip or patch 38is removed from the drip chamber 14 by means of the pull tab 48, and itis then adhesively applied to the exterior of the IV container 12, asshown in broken outline in FIG. 1.

The second adhesive strip or patch 40 also has an adhesive backing 44(FIG. 3) that allows it to be fixed to the drip chamber 14 (as shown inFIG. 1). The adhesive backing 44 is advantageously such as to fix thesecond strip or patch 40 permanently to the drip chamber 14 as apermanent marker. Alternatively, the second identification element maysimply be an identification symbol permanently marked on the dripchamber.

The first adhesive strip or patch 38, the second adhesive strip or patch40, and the coupler extension 42 are each marked with a matchingidentification symbol 46. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the symbol46 may be a numeral. Preferably, color may be used as part of theidentification symbols 46, whereby the symbols 46 have a matching coloras well as a matching number. Still more preferably, the Y-site 24 maybe made in the same color as the symbols 46.

In use, the identification system of the present invention will usuallycomprise two or more sets of identification elements, each setcomprising a first strip or patch 38, a second strip or patch 40, and aY-site 24 with an extension 42 bearing the same identification symbol46, unique to that set.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 show alternative forms of the identification system,using different types of identification symbols. In FIG. 5 the symbol46′ is a letter, preferably in combination with a matching color. InFIG. 6 the symbol 46″ is a color alone, the matching color being thepredominant (if not sole) color of both the tab 42 and the strip 40. InFIG. 7 the symbol 46′″ is a colored geometric shape. Still other typesof symbols may be Roman numerals, abstract shapes and designs, andletters of non-Latin alphabets.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative form of the third identificationelement. In this form, the coupler or Y-site 52 is structurally anordinary device of this type, lacking the extension 42 described above.The Y-site 52 is marked with an identification symbol 54 by means of aband 56 attached around the inlet branch of the coupler 52, the band 56bearing the symbol 54. The band 56 is preferably applied as a segment ofshrink tubing, but it may also be in the form of an adhesive strip.

In use, the practitioner is provided with a drip chamber 14 to which thefirst identification element 38 is removably attached and the secondidentification element 40 is permanently fixed, and an IV line 20 havinga Y-site or port 24 that includes the third identification element 42.When an IV solution container 12 is selected, the drip chamber 14 isconnected to the IV solution container 12 (by means of the hollow spike16). The first identification element 38 is then removed from the dripchamber 14 and attached to the IV solution container 12. In this manner,a high degree of certainty is provided that the IV solution container ismatched to the proper IV line.

FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 illustrate another modified form of the thirdidentification element. In this form, the third identification elementis in the form of an attachment 60 that is removably attachable to astandard Y-site 62 having a first inlet branch 63 a and a second inletbranch 63 b. The attachment 60 comprises a sleeve 64 with an axial slit66 and an integral lateral extension 68 that is marked with anidentification symbol 70. The integral extension 68 is preferablylocated diametrically opposite the axial slit 66, and it is orientedsubstantially parallel to the slit 66. The sleeve 64 is made of aresilient, flexible, plastic material, and it is shaped and dimensionedto fit over and to conform to the exterior surface of the Y-site 62. Thesleeve 64 can thus be slightly spread apart along the axial slit 66 toallow the second IV line 32 downstream from the Y-site 62 to be passedthrough the slit 66, and then the attachment 60 is pushed upwardly fromthe lower (downstream) end of the Y-site 62 until the Y-site 62 isreceived in the sleeve 64. The sleeve 64 is widened at its upper(upstream) end to accommodate the first inlet branch 63 a of the Y-site62. Likewise, the slit 66 is widened at its upper (upstream) end toaccommodate the second inlet branch 63 b of the Y-site 62. Theattachment 60 may be removed by just reversing the aforementionedinstallation process. Alternatively, the attachment 60 can be installedsnapping the sleeve 64 directly onto the Y-site 62 by spreading thesleeve 64 apart along the slit 66. Likewise, the sleeve 64 can be spreadapart along the slit 66 for removal from the port or Y-site 62.

The method of using the modified form of the invention is the same asdescribed above, except that the practitioner is provided with an IVline having a standard Y-site or port 62 and an appropriate snap-onmember 60 for attachment to the Y-site 62. When an IV solution container12 is selected, the drip chamber 14 is connected to it, and the firstidentification element is removed from the drip chamber and applied tothe solution container. The third identification element (attachment 60)is then attached to the Y-site 62 (as described above), the attachment60 having an identification symbol 70 that matches the identificationsymbol on the first and second identification element.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described herein,it will be appreciated that a number of variations and modificationswill suggest themselves to those skilled in the pertinent arts. Thesevariations and modifications are considered within the spirit and scopeof the invention, as defined in the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for identifying IV administration setcomponents, wherein the IV administration set includes an IV solutioncontainer, a drip chamber, and an IV line having a port, the systemcomprising: a first identification element that is removably attached tothe drip chamber for subsequent attachment to the container; a secondidentification element fixed to the drip chamber; and a thirdidentification element that is removably attachable to the port, whereinthe third identification element comprises: a substantially tubular bodyconfigured to fit over the exterior surface of the port; and an integralextension extending from the tubular body.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the first identification element includes a patch that isadhesively attached to the drip chamber in a manner that allows it to beremoved therefrom for subsequent attachment to the container.
 3. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the second identification element includes amarker that is permanently fixed to the drip chamber.
 4. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the third identification element comprises: a tubularbody of flexible resilient material, configured to fit over and toconform to the exterior surface of the port, the tubular body having anaxial slit; wherein the integral extension extends from the tubular bodyat a location diametrically opposite the slit.
 5. The system of claim 1,wherein the first, second, and third identification elements bearmatching identification symbols.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein theidentification symbols are selected from the group consisting of Arabicnumerals, Roman numerals, letters, geometric shapes, abstract shapes,and colors.
 7. A system for identifying IV administration setcomponents, wherein the IV administration set includes an IV solutioncontainer, a drip chamber, and an IV line having a port, the systemcomprising: a first identification element that is removably attached tothe drip chamber with an adhesive that allows it to be subsequentlyattached to the container; a second identification element permanentlyfixed to the drip chamber; and a third identification element that isremovably attachable to the port; wherein the first, second, and thirdidentification elements are marked with matching identification symbols;and wherein the third identification element comprises: a substantiallytubular body configured to fit over the exterior surface of the port;and an integral extension extending from the tubular body.
 8. The systemof claim 7, wherein the identification symbols are selected from thegroup consisting of Arabic numerals, Roman numerals, letters, geometricshapes, abstract shapes, and colors.
 9. The system of claim 7, whereinthe third identification element comprises: a tubular body of flexibleresilient material, configured to fit over and to conform to theexterior surface of the port, the tubular body having an axial slit;wherein the integral extension extends from the tubular body at alocation diametrically opposite the slit.
 10. The system of claim 7,wherein the extension is marked with an identification symbol.